"NO!"

I clung fearfully to Draco, terror filling every inch of me. It was over. We had lost the war and I couldn't bear to think what that would mean for our little family.

"Shhh, Aurora, it's okay," Draco soothed, trying to reassure me as he held me tightly to him, the fierce pounding in his chest telling me he wasn't as calm as he sounded. "Whatever happens, we stick together, okay? Even if it means pledging allegiance with him - we stay together. We need to do everything we can to keep Nova's future safe."

I nodded numbly, feeling more afraid than I'd ever felt in my life.

Slowly, we stood, thanking Chalky from the bottom of our hearts. A part of me wanted to stay down there forever but I couldn't rest until I was back with my daughter.

I couldn't believe Harry was dead. I had never allowed myself to think it could end like this; had refused to give up hope.

Draco held my hand tightly as we made our way up through the kitchens and headed tentatively across the devastated castle towards the large oaken front doors.

Everyone was gathered out on the steps, watching as black cloaked figures approached from the forest.

"Stay with me, Aurora," Draco murmured, pulling me protectively to his side, wrapping his arms fiercely around me.

We stood amongst the students as we watched a sobbing Hagrid carry Harry's body towards us.

I buried my head against Draco's chest, not being able to bear the sight. I was terrified.

Everyone around us started wailing when it became clear the body was in fact Harry's. And he was quite obviously dead.

Just like Fred. Just like Cedric.

A cold fear clung at my heart as I wondered who else's life had been taken.

"Draco!" A voice hissed from the mass of black cloaked figures as they came to halt in front of the castle.

Both Draco and I swivelled our heads to the source.

It was his father.

"Draco!" He hissed harder, his faced pinched furiously as he beckoned his son to join him.

I felt Draco stiffen, tightening his arms around me.

Everyone's eyes fell on us. All Lucius had done was draw attention to the fact that we were there. And the way Draco held onto me, I could tell he had no intention of letting me go.

"Come, Draco," Narcissa murmured, her face full of panicked fear.

Draco still did not move, his arms remaining around me protectively.

To my horror, Voldemort looked towards us.

"What is this?" He said coldly. "Do my eyes deceive me or do one of my followers stand on the wrong side?"

A wave of nausea swept through me; terror making me freeze on the spot.

"Go," I whispered fearfully. "Please, Draco, go before he kills you."

"Not without you." Draco said vehemently, not letting me go.

Panic swirled inside of me. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't think.

"Come on now, Draco," Voldemort said coldly as his lips pulled into a cruel smile. "I wouldn't do anything stupid if I were you. Bring the halfbreed if you must, I'm sure we can find use for her. After all, I have men that have certain needs needing to be met."

I balked in sheer horror. I could feel Draco shaking as he took a sharp intake of breath.

In the end, it was Cho who made the decision for us.

"Leave her, Draco." She said, reaching a hand out to place on his arm which was still wrapped tightly around me. "She's safer here with us."

I looked up into Draco's face which was full of panic and terror. "I don't want to let you go." He trembled; his voice breaking.

"I love you Draco, I'll never stop." I assured him, my heart tearing.

He closed his eyes as his arms fell away from me. He turned without looking at me and I understood it was because it was too painful for him to say goodbye.

Cho pulled me into her arms as he walked away, and I allowed the silent tears to fall as I watched his retreating back.

"Excellent, Draco, extremely wise decision." Voldemort grinned satisfactorily as he gave him a brief hug before Draco joined his parents, his head hanging morosely; defeated.

I felt numb as I watched Neville step forward to make a stand. So numb that it didn't really register with me when the Sorting Hat fell on his head, bursting into flames.

A scream tore in my throat at the exact same time as I heard Draco yell, "POTTER!"

My heart went crazy as I pulled myself out of Cho's arms, watching as Draco threw his wand at a now apparently alive Harry before leaping across no man's land back towards the castle; back towards me.

"DRACO!" I cried, watching him skid and stumble, narrowly missing curses that were aimed at him.

I ran forwards to meet him, my heart in my throat as panic and chaos ensued all around us; only two thoughts in my mind.

Harry was not dead.

And Draco was coming back to me.

His body slammed hard against mine as he threw his arms around me.

"Aurora," he breathed, clutching me furiously to him.

"Draco, we need to get out of here, now!" I cried, pulling myself out of his embrace and grappling for his hand.

Fear was still rife in my veins. I couldn't allow myself to feel any kind of relief until we were out of harms way.

Everyone was running and screaming all around us. Jets of wand light flew dangerously close to our heads.

We pushed through the chaos, heading back towards the safety of the castle, allowing the sheer weight of the crowd to carry us into the Entrance Hall.

"Over here," Draco ordered, pulling me towards a stone pillar just inside the doors of the Great Hall.

He ushered me down to the floor behind it, taking my wand off of me as he crouched down too, wrapping an arm securely around me.

"I'm scared, Draco," I trembled, burying my face into the crook of his neck, as terrified screams, frantic shouts and deafening bangs echoed around us.

"I'm here, baby," he murmured fiercely into my ear, holding onto me tightly, my wand poised in his hand ready. "I'm always here. And we're going to go home and be with our little girl soon enough. I promise you, Aurora."

We both sat huddled together as we watched Harry and Voldemort enter the Hall, duelling viciously with one another.

Please Harry, I silently begged. Please.

And then he did it.

I could scarcely believe it when Voldemort's body fell lifelessly to the floor.

Underwhelming, but yet at the same time, it was everything.

"It's over, baby," Draco whispered in my ear as the castle erupted into cheers around us. "We're finally free."

And I cried.

I cried great shuddering, heart wrenching sobs.

I cried for Cedric. I cried for Fred. I cried for all the other lives that were needlessly lost thanks to this horrific, deadly war.

"I'm so tired," I wept as Draco held me to him.

"Then let's go home, Aurora." He murmured fervidly, cupping my face in his hands and tilting it up to look into his twinkling silver grey eyes.

"Let's go home to our little girl."